Lounging in a Snowdrift

I haven't been using the Lounge much in awhile. This thread has nothing to do with station wagons, cars, trucks, buses, or anything with tires. Altho the past few days I've been cruising in a wheel chair when at our local hospital.
We've all heard of CANCER. Many have it, had it, or know someone close who does. I normally don't tell about my illnesses. Most have been mental yet lots of people think I'm normal.

We moved back home from Florida because we've been worried about our health. Out of the blue doctors told me I have prostrate cancer. Scared the H*** out of me and my family. I've been through all sorts of tests and was relieved there are modern painless non-touch ways now to treat it if caught soon enough. Apparently it's been caught soon enough!

I've gone through tests I never imagined but nothing compared to others. Yesterday scared me even more. Spent 45 minutes after earlier dye injections for bone X-rays. Just got the call from my Peoria doctor that my bones are CANCER FREE. This was important. Now I can even wait till end of January for another blood sample to see if this cancer has gotten any worse. Even then perhaps I can wait another month to drive 26+ miles on the Daytona 500 track around the city in drifting snow and ice. It's not the treatments that worry me, it's not driving in winter weather among idiots for years. So every delay makes me smile.

I have no idea how true this is. Many adult males will get prostrate cancer and never know it. Some die of heart problems, being run over by a truck or station wagon, or other natural causes. Also I know friends who have had prostrate cancer for years and choose to do nothing. I have reasons to do something.

There have been times I wasn't on here and times I overdid it to make up. But it looks like I may be here to bug most of you for a few more years. I just felt so good about this news I wanted to shout it from the roof. However there's snow on the roof, it's 9 degrees, with a wind chill of -1 and light snow.

Whispering on my computer makes more sense.

 

Good news is great . I always wondered why you came north . I've put up with the long winters in Ohio and know how you feel . Son lives in Florida but the city life by him is to much for this old guy . Lost my brother to the big C a year ago ,he only lasted 8 -weeks cause he ignored it I think . So whatever you do stay on top of it. Again GREAT NEWS !

 

I just lost my mother to the big Casino, and her brother died of colon cancer years ago... it pays to get checked early and checked often

 

Dad had prostate cancer, caught early, currently in remission, and is dealing with bone cancer in his hip, also caught early, the treatment is ongoing. He takes pills for it rather than liquid chemo or radiation.

 

I felt I had to share with my station wagon family. I don't remember ever getting the finger test or blood tests for PSA (cancer) since when on my job. The company doctor was a woman and I heard she loved her job so every few years I was fingered! It was embarrassing so after retirement I always said NO to my family doctor. Possibly this prostrate cancer began years ago in Florida.

When I or most others have blood taken it's usually for something else and they don't bother checking for possible cancer. Our new doctors up here in corn country insisted I see a urologist with big hands! His feeling around and the blood work raised warnings. I was sent all the way around the north side of the big city with the fancy hospitals for more testing. I started asking questions and got lots of scary answers.

Only two miles from home there is a small cancer clinic in the hospital parking lot. I was confused and upset that I had to travel around an interstate bypass for 26+ miles for more testing and treatment. Soon I understood. No fingers, wires, tubes, electrical shock, freezing, cutting, or anything others had in the past. Only two places near have a special Katscan looking machine that shoots a tiny little bit of red radiation directly at the problem area. Therefore 45 or less quick treatments.

I'm writing this because I'm not the only older male member here. Have the PSA and digital testing done soon and stay on top of what ever you are told. If needed, don't settle for any treatments except the non-touch non-pain new radiation therapy! Hope for a gentle doctor with tiny fingers like my newest older woman Indian cancer doctor. In times of life and death it's no longer embarrassing.

My younger brother waited too long. He had his prostrate and other things removed. He nearly died but now bowls and enjoys life in Arizona. My dad's oldest brother couldn't handle the chemo and committed suicide. Several other friends went through the early primitive cures. Sticking things where they don't belong scared me! Other friends have decided to just live with prostrate cancer and hope. This is where it gets confusing. They were told they could live five years with or without surgery. I know two who've had prostrate cancer way over ten years and are doing fine. It's a gamble and I have the chance to not gamble. So far my expensive insurance has paid and hasn't complained. As with anything, lots of possible after affects. Life is a gamble.

I'm not a doctor but sometimes I play one online. If one member gets the early warning and is cured this is worth writing.

 

My GP doctor is also a childhood friend. We've already had the big laugh (I quoted Bill Engvall's "Just do me--then we'll chat!), and I know I need to do it soon as I've had erectile dysfunction since about '08. Couple it with my bladder problems due to my heart problems, and it's just a recipe for "Smile! here comes the choo-choo!" After I get the crap with Medicare coverage straightened out, I'll get it set up with my doctor, but I'll request a female doctor. Knowing my luck, I'll get Greta, the 2+-meter tall German exchange doctor with hands bigger than mine!

 

I discovered that big hands in small places is not a good thing. The blood sample testing shows a lot. Butt......... but I suppose they like to get some hands on inspection.

 

Shouting from the roof...



or lounging in the snow it's great to see in here and sharing this great news with your friends and peers.


I'm so excited for you.



I know your not out of the woods yet but I believe you can see the meadow through the trees. Dolly must be relieved and in that regard I believe you must be too.

By the by this is not the wrong forum at all it's the perfect place to meet with friends about what ever the topic...wheels are optional.

 

ModelT1, thank you so much for sharing your story and your suggestions. You are reminding me of advice my dad gave me a few years ago that I still have not headed; specifically, adding the PSA to my annually blood work. He is a prostate cancer survivor from (I want to say) about 10 years ago now.

Welcome back to the colder weather too, lol. I'm a native of NYS and was just there for a white Xmas with my folks. I kinda miss it.

Congrats on your good news!

 

Thanks for the positive feedback. The new radiation is so much better even though it takes a lot of time. At least when it's over I'll have more time to spend with family and friends.
Yes we can see the meadow or the empty corn field behind the house. It's covered in snow but this is home now and somehow I survived 55 years playing in the snow, the rain, and the heat. We're looking for many more good years here on Memory Lane.


I just felt so good about this news I wanted to shout it from the roof. However there's snow on the roof, it's 15 degrees, with a wind chill of 9. It's warming up!

 

There are 2 kinds of prostate cancer, fast or slow growing. The slow growing takes years and you will probably die of something else before it kills you. My Dad had it and died from Alzheimer's. They didn't even treat it.

My recently deceased neighbor had it 30 years ago. They removed his prostate and he went thru 26 doses of chemo. Last year, it came back in the same area and sent fingers into his bladder. He suffered from blood clots in his bladder which blocked his ureters up and had to have a catheter installed. The clots plugged the catheters and he made almost daily trips to the emergency room to have the blockages removed. They started and stopped chemo as he couldn't handle the side effects, but he passed from a heart attack while in the hospital. His PSA count was high even though he didn't have a prostate.

There are a zillion things they can test for in a blood test. However, you have to specify which ones you want went you go in for a physical and each is a separate fee. The wife told me to request a CBC to cover PSA, kidney function and cholesterol, and to ask for a split HDL-LDL lipid profile.

 

Always great to hear good news! Keep up with the treatments since we still have a lot to discuss here and problems in the world only we here at the station wagon forums can solve!

 

Thanks wise OldFox. In my family few shared anything so as I learned about this I was only told the old treatments and bad things. Believe me I'm having second and third thoughts of what to do. In the long run it seems worth the time and trouble. As more members add their comments and experiences perhaps we can get a few to have their doctor do the simple blood test for PSA and digitally get friendly.
I've mentioned my wife has short term dementia (Alzheimers) and needs help with meds, food, and minor things. As far as remembering, she reminds me of things from years ago but bugs the hell out of me repeatedly asking about appointments.
The wife of one of our oldest friends who also were at our very small wedding is younger than Dollie. For years she's known no one and is basically a vegetable. Scares the heck out of us thinking this could happen.
I want to hang around as long as I can to keep my wife here at home. Besides her regular meds which do little except postpone memory lose, she takes a spoon of virgin coconut oil every morning and every evening. I really think it helps but it's getting more difficult finding the virgins!
All minor problems compared to many. We help each other and now have three grown kids to keep an eye on things. Leaving Florida is worth it! We can't explain it, but this little house on the edge of town is perfect and we feel cozy together.
Again, thanks everybody for your input. It's not wagon related but without healthy humans the wagons can't go on.

 

We can't solve the world's problems but we can give each other hope and advice as we get older everyday!

 

'A bad thing' in Dad's case was having to go out of his way to find a radiation oncology clinic that had a table large enough to fit him (6'3" and 300 or so pounds) for his radiation treatments.